This article was co-authored by Ashley Matuska. Ashley Matuska is the owner and founder of Dashing Maids, a sustainably focused cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado. She has worked in the cleaning industry for over 5 years.

There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Grease spills are one of the toughest messes to clean up. Not only does grease easily penetrate surfaces, but it is very difficult and messy to remove. This is sometimes made worse by the fact that grease spills occur in messy places where they may not be noticed or cannot be attended to quickly. However, by taking steps to remove excess grease and cleaning the spot appropriately, you’ll be more equipped to effectively handle grease stains.

Blot up excess grease. Before trying to clean the spot, you need to blot up as much grease as you possibly can. Without removing extra grease, your effort to clean up the spill won’t go so well. Make sure to:

Blot a balled-up paper towel on the grease spill.

If you’re cleaning a spill on a fabric or wood, make sure to blot very gently. The goal is to remove as much grease as possible without making the grease penetrate the material.

If you’re cleaning fabric or a carpet, you may consider getting a spoon, a coated piece of cardboard, or something similar and using it to collect as much grease as you can.[1]XResearch source

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Create a warm water and white vinegar mixture. Warm water and white vinegar together will cut through grease and help clean the surface of cabinets, countertops, and similar surfaces. To create the mixture:

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Up Major Grease Spills

Soak up excess grease. Before trying to clean the spill, you'll need to soak up as much grease as possible. Do this by blotting the spill with disposable rags or paper towels.

If you're on a porous surface, avoid pushing down too much. You don't want the surface to absorb the grease before you soak it up.

Make sure to have a trash bag nearby so you can dispose of the rags or paper towels without causing a bigger mess.[4]XResearch source

2

Sprinkle absorbent powder on the grease. After you’ve collected as much excess grease as you can, you’ll need to sprinkle absorbent powder on the grease. The powder will soak up the grease, thus making it easier for you to clean the spot. Pick your powder appropriately (based on fabric or material) and use as much as you need. Some powders you can use include:

Brush up the grease and powder. After your absorbent powder has soaked up any remaining grease, it’ll be time to brush or sweep it up. While this won’t be the quickest thing to do, it’s the best way to clean your grease up.

If you’re working with a spill on some sort of fabric, you’ll likely want to use a brush.

If your grease spill is on your kitchen floor, drive way, or another hard surface, use a broom.

If you want, use a shop vacuum to suck up the greasy-powder mixture.

Sweep or brush up all the powder into a dust collector.[6]XResearch source

Choose an appropriate degreaser or soap. After you've cleaned up the excess grease, you'll want to use a degreaser or soap to prevent the grease from setting. The product you choose will weaken the grease and help separate it from any surface it is on.

Use an appropriate degreaser product for metal materials. Quick Degreaser should work well on grease stains on concrete or similar surfaces.

Use dish detergent or laundry soap for fabrics and carpet. For example, Dawn soap works great against grease on a variety of materials.

Pick an appropriate product if you have hardwood or wood laminate in your home.[7]XResearch source

Ashley Matuska is the owner and founder of Dashing Maids, a sustainably focused cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado. She has worked in the cleaning industry for over 5 years.

EXPERT ADVICE

Ashley Matuska of Dashing Maids, says: "I like CITRA SOLV because the ingredients are simple and all-natural, and the product works well. However, you can make your own version by mixing 2 cups of water, a tablespoon of baking soda, and about 20 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. The homemade version requires a little more effort to get all of the grime picked up, but they both work well."

2

Apply soap or a similar product immediately. Once you’ve cleaned up excess grease, you need to apply a soap product immediately. By applying the product quickly, you’ll stop the grease from soaking in and bonding with whatever material it has been spilled on.

If you’re cleaning grease on a fabric, mix the soap or detergent with warm water and apply it.

If you’re cleaning grease on a hard surface, apply your degreaser or a soap and water mixture liberally.

Allow the soap or degreaser to sit for several minutes.[8]XResearch source

3

Rub or dab the product after you’ve applied it. Some products and surfaces will benefit from you rubbing or dabbing the cleaning product onto the grease spot. By doing this, you'll help the product penetrate the surface better.

Feel free to scrub hard surfaces with an abrasive pad or something similar.

Avoid rubbing or scrubbing fabric surfaces.

If the directions on a cleaning product instruct you to dab it into the grease spot, do so.[9]XResearch source

4

Rinse or soak the product. After you’ve applied your product and allowed it to sit, you’ll need to either rinse or soak the product. While some fabrics, like clothes, can soak, hard surfaces like concrete should be rinsed.

Allow fabrics to soak in hot water with your chosen soap product for up to an hour. Rinse and examine the fabric after it soaks. You may need to apply more soap and soak the product again.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Ashley Matuska. Ashley Matuska is the owner and founder of Dashing Maids, a sustainably focused cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado. She has worked in the cleaning industry for over 5 years.